ShareThis

While browsing through a Twitter feed, I caught sight of a mini conversation between two people trying to figure out how people they do not follow ended up in their feeds. For the time being, this is only a phenomenon that occurs when one reads directly from Twitter’s site – readers such as Echofon and Tweetdeck do not capture these particular posts. What is happening here is that when somebody you follow retweets a post made by somebody you don’t follow, Twitter adds the original post to your feed, with the avatar and profile link of the poster. The purpose, ostensibly, is to broaden a user’s awareness of like-minded Tweeters out there.

What does this mean for the business person who utilizes social media in his/her marketing plan? For one, every time one of your posts is retweeted, there is a chance somebody who doesn’t follow you will see your post, and perhaps be inspired to add you to a feed. Of course, this is based on the assumption that potential followers will use the Twitter site and not a special reader (or a reader that supports this function – as readers update this could become a reality), and that people will retweet your posts in the first place. In order to take advantage of this added exposure to your company, you must not only be social, but be interesting.

Recruitment of Retweeters

It’s not uncommon to see a request for followers to retweet a particular message, be it a sales notice or a call to action. Depending on the scope of your business, you can conduct Twitter-only discount codes for products and services, then request followers to spread the word. Adding incentive (i.e. choosing a random retweeter for a prize giveaway) may boost motivation.

Maintaining your Twitter account on a personal level, too, may encourage followers to spread your wisdom. If you were to constantly post repetitive information hustling people to your main site, you might find you lose more followers than you gain. Take care to nurture relationships with those already opted-in to your feed, and you can cultivate a larger following as you progress socially.

ShareThis

When you log on to your Twitter page, you’ll find a third notation positioned after the numbers of people you follow and those who follow you. “Listed” denotes the number of times a Twitter user has categorized you in a Twitter list. If you find several people have included you in their lists, regardless of category, it certainly says quite a bit about your influence with the social network. Whether you are new to Twitter or a seasoned “tweeter,” Twitter and its list options can be advantageous to your online marketing strategy.

Twitter Lists allows you to group specific Twitter users any way you wish. If you market for a rather large company, you can collect the accounts of all employees or official accounts into one list, then utilize the RSS feed to share with others interested in company-wide happenings. From a personal standpoint, Twitter Lists helps you group certain accounts so you can update yourself on several accounts at once without having to sort through all the people on Twitter you follow, or check individual Twitter pages.

Can this feature help your product and service promotion? There is opportunity, provided your information posted is compelling enough to inspire somebody to add you to a list. One advantage to Twitter Lists is that one can add users the list creator doesn’t necessarily follow. Yet, as people begin to follow lists, they may be inclined to follow you on a regular basis as you let your personality and authority shine through the social network.

Whether you use Twitter’s list option for researching tweets or connect with other users to create relevant groups, the more you research this function the more you can discover the potential for your work.

ShareThis

The latest Twitter buzz involves the new “retweeting” feature accessible on user’s Twitter home pages. If you read your follow feed through the main Twitter.com site, you have the option now of clicking a simple button to automatically repeat a favorite post without having to cut and paste and add the obligatory “RT @…” prefix. What is unique about this function is that once a post is retweeted, you have the choice to undo your action, too.

This functionality, however, is not entirely new to the tweeting world. Users of TweetDeck, a popular social media client that allows users to keep track of Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace feeds, are able to retweet with ease. Those with the ability, who use Twitter mainly as a promotional tool, may wonder why retweeting is important at all, and does it really apply to them?

In truth, taking the time to share information parsed by the people you fellow can benefit your status with the social network. If you haven’t considered sharing third-party information via Twitter, now is the time to familiarize yourself with the retweet function as a necessary part of your social networking strategy.

Retweeting = Visibility: With the ability to integrate Twitter into other social networks, thereby allowing one to post once and distribute to many places, you benefit by maxmizing your social media marketing. Consequently, you also run the risk of having a network appear stale and robotic. Followers may get the sense your Twitter profile serves no other purpose but to drive-by with advertising. Taking the time to read the feeds of those you follow, and retweeting something relevant to your work (or not) aids in the viral nature of the medium. Twitter etiquette often calls on a user to publicly thank another for repeating their information, and this allows for more exposure of your brand. A Twitter user who follows somebody you follow, but not necessarily you, now knows you exist. He could be inspired to follow you as a result.

Retweeting = Authority: It’s nice to say you were able to scoop big news on Twitter first. It doesn’t always happen, however, and if you happen to follow users close to your business model you’re certain to find posts relevant to your work. Retweeting the news lends you status in the way that you establish the type of news you want to relay through your profile. If somebody searches Twitter for that particular topic, there’s a chance your post will show in results, and that may prompt users to follow.

Don’t think that refraining from repeating posts will hurt your standing in Twitter. Social media is all about socialization, and it’s important to approach the way your market yourself in a social manner. Lend your expertise through this medium and don’t be afraid to share the spotlight.

ShareThis

Successful seafood companies are leveraging technology to build agile business processes and are transforming the challenge of regulatory compliance into a competitive advantage. And a flexible, adaptable IT business solution – like Microsoft Dynamics NAV, formerly Navision – is the cornerstone of their strategy.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV provides end-to-end integration for all levels of the seafood industry from fishing and purchase trading through to processing and sales and distribution functions. Effective inventory management is critical for successful seafood operations. With this brand of software, you’ll know instantly what’s been caught, purchased, produced and sold, and you’ll have vision into who needs what product and when you can get it.

This business solution assists seafood companies by increasing operating product and maximizing production yields. With timely awareness of the cost elements of every activity and process, you will be able to set accurate and competitive pricing for all your products. In addition, NAV can provide complete traceability of product from boat to customer helping you not only meet regulatory requirements but also increase profits and quality throughout the process.

Regulatory compliance is costly, especially for small and midsize companies. But it’s also an opportunity to improve your business processes, provide comprehensive service, and deliver significant value to your customers. Microsoft Dynamics NAV is an integrated business management solution specially designed for growing small and midsize companies. It is ideal for companies looking for one solution they can implement rapidly, learn and use easily, and customize and maintain with minimal disruption to their business.

If you operate a seafood business and are in need of a good management software to run your business, research area consultants and ask about the options available to you.

ShareThis

Look around your favorite online hangouts these days, and you might see a common theme. No matter where you go for news, amusement, or online shopping, somebody appeals to you to join their Facebook following. As Facebook has fast become the most popular social networking among people over 30, businesses know it is a prime forum for marketing products and services. Everything from pet supplies to coastal resorts, restaurant chains to car manufacturers is on Facebook, working to get social with clients and customers.

Here are some important statistics on Facebook:

• Facebook has more than 300 million active users.This is larger than the population of most countries.
• 50% of active users log on to Facebook in any given day
• The fastest growing demographic of Facebook users is people 35 years old and older
• The average Facebook user has 130 friends on the site (think about how many people read a friend’s news feed…the word of mouth possibilities are endless)
• More than 10 million users become fans of Pages daily.
• More then 65 million active users currently access Facebook through their mobile devices.

With the ease of accessibility Facebook offers to users, communication between friends has increased, along with a user’s tendency to share information. People post links to news stories, videos, and products to their profiles. They recommend books, movies, and local restaurants. Any business without a Facebook presence needs to seriously think about setting on up, not only to market products and services, but to monitor what others are saying about you.Consider the advantages of having a Facebook fan page:

• Instant socialization: Feedback is real-time, and you can communicate directly with one customer/client while promoting to anybody else reading the feed on your page.
• Search optimization: In blended search paradigms, Facebook pages are showing up in search under certain keywords. With a page, you increase the opportunities for being found online.
• Customization: Create a unique look for your company with a customized fan page.

That’s right, you can add touches to a Facebook page to make it unique. You might think Facebook is limiting in terms of the options you have with regards to marketing. All Facebook fan pages look alike, right? Not necessarily. It’s only a matter of know what tools to use and how to properly arrange your page to maximize exposure of your brand. The application Static FBML (which is short for Facebook Markup Language), allows users to add customized tabs to the fan page, thereby allowing for unique content, graphics, and anchor text to your company’s main site, shopping cart, or anywhere else you want visitors to go.How it Works

Once logged into Facebook, you will need to go to the page for Static FBML. Underneath the avatar on the top left corner you’ll see a link that says, “Add to Page.” Click to add the capability to your business’ fan page.

Next, go to your fan page and access the backend. The FBML option will appear under the Applications section. Click edit and you’ll find the means to add a new box and tab to your page. You will add raw HTML code into the new boxes you create, but bear in mind that FBML may not accept certain types of code like scripts and iframes.

With FBML, you can create beautiful graphic pages advertising various aspects of your business, even text pages of articles and stories relevant to your company. The more you tinker with this customizable option, the stronger you can build your Facebook community.

ShareThis

Recently the question came up from a client about the usefulness of Twitter beyond posting updates to thin air. When one sets up a Twitter account, it’s no surprise that businesses may follow an arbitrary number of people in hopes of receiving a courtesy follow back so somebody may view their messages. Add to this the fact that Twitter update and profile URLs are difficult to bring up in search results (not as easy as calling up fan pages on Facebook), and one might wonder…why bother using social media at all?

Pundits and experts may argue the fad factor in social media rates high among smaller businesses, while large corporations with established brands stand to gain the most from social networking. In truth, this thought is pretty much applicable to any aspect of marketing – corporations have more to spend, therefore can devote more money to enhancing social profiles and promotions to strengthen loyalty among their customer base. For a smaller business that may only cater to a local or regional audience, one might not see the value in social networks. However, the size and scope of your business may actually work in your favor. Let’s examine how.

Maintain Local Focus – Social media is global, yet every single person who owns a Facebook page, Twitter account, or MySpace profile is essentially local. It’s common to see people sharing links and stories of national and global interest, but ultimately if somebody uses the Internet for goods and services they want to find a provider close to home. When you tailor you social profiles to emphasize your locality you stand a better chance of reaching the audience you want.

Use What Works – You might find as you experiment with social sites that one will catch on quicker and stronger than others. You could have fifty people following you on Twitter and several hundred on Facebook, or vice versa. Does this mean you should abandon one for the other? Not necessarily. You want to established your brand under as many social sites as possible so nobody else does, and while instinct dictates that you should nurture the more popular profile it’s always a good idea to update others, even if you wish to direct them toward your stronger network so they can find your information and promotions.

Keeping the local/regional angle on your social sites, and building trust through the strongest of the group is a good, and cost effective, method of promotion. Don’t discount social media as a fad, for even if a small percentage of followers click through to conversion, you have reached a goal.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Lively

ShareThis

It’s not enough to set up a fan page on Facebook or a Twitter account and expect people to follow you in mass numbers. Granted, if you enjoy a strong following via a company blog or existing portfolio Web site, there’s a good chance visitors will migrate to your social networks for updates and interaction. You can place buttons on your main site, and post and tweet to your heart’s content to build your following, but what happens when you plateau and can’t quite reach a friendship goal?

Word of mouth is the strongest marketing tool out there, and often one has to mouth off quite a bit before people get the message. While recommendations may drive traffic to your fan pages and profiles, there has to be substance and activity to persuade them from clicking that ever-important “join” button.

The key to increasing fans and friends lies, naturally, in encouraging present friends to spread your gospel. Tell a friend, and they’ll tell two – but in this age of short attentions and instant gratification one will wonder what’s in it for them. You have already established your social media presence as a means of promoting your business and/or products, so now is the time to really make it work.

Incentive: You can set up Twitter to notify you when people follow your account, and if you check the fan member list of a Facebook page you’ll see the most recent fans at the top. Hold a membership drive where newly joined fans can receive a discount on products, maybe a freebie, or something equally attractive. For existing fans, offer an equivalent promotion if they write a blog to recruit fans or retweet your Twitter posts. Use the information you receive to reward their loyalty.

Partnership: Are there businesses or group in your area that can benefit from mutual promotion strategies? Maybe you are associated with a civic organization and have sponsored events in the past. Connect with others to devise a plan to cross-promote your social media endeavors. You might find fans at one network will join yours as well.

Expertise: Above all else use your networks to expand upon your experience and skills in your chosen area. People should follow your Twitter and Facebook because it provides a valuable resource of information in your field. This is your chance to prove just that.

Interact and inform – the more content you offer means a greater opportunity for people to share your wisdom.

ShareThis

It seems the buzz on Twitter’s application of Twitter Lists is gaining momentum among the more prolific Tweeters. Just as the eager website owner checks his analytics several times daily to see how many people are visiting his site, so people are surely checking their Twitter dashboards to see how many other users have added them to a list. If the lists are categorized as professionals in one realm or another, all the better for you. It means somebody has recognized you and your posts for what they are – informative and relevant to the topics and products you advertise. This begs the question, however, of how you can use Twitter lists to help optimize your business and main site through social media.

The Bare Bones of Twitter Lists

If you are new to Twitter and social media altogether, you may already know that this site allows users to “micro-blog” data and integrate information into widgets for weblogs, Facebook, MySpace, and other sites. If you are unable to constantly update a blog or website with new information on your business, you can log into Twitter via a dashboard widget or your cell phone and keep the people who follow your feed of posts appraised of sales, events, and last-minute news. The idea behind Twitter lists, for seasoned users trying to grasp this concept, is to allow people group other Tweeters into specific categories, thereby allowing the list owner (if the list is private) or anyone at all to follow a set group of people just by reading the list URL.

As a personal tool, Twitter Lists are handy in allowing power users to group accounts into specific categories. If you use the social network as a primary source of finding news, you may wish to create a list that captures the posts of various outlets like CNN, The New York Times, the Associated Press, and others. Whatever the subject, or if you want to keep all your tweeting friends and family in one place, the list function is quite handy.

Social Optimization with Twitter Lists

How can Twitter Lists benefit your business’ social media optimization? Depending on the size of your company, if several employees use Twitter to promote goods and services, you can create a list of each user to provide as an overview of information for readers. While Twitter doesn’t yet allow for RSS capability for their lists, a simple online search will direct you to tools and widgets that can create a syndicated feed of the accounts. A simple RSS widget module on your site or blog will display the posts.

Creating a Twitter list comprised of users relevant to your business or subject – other professionals in the field, reviewers – can also be helpful if you make the list public. Twitter users can see on their dashboard if they have been added to lists, and this may inspire them not only to follow your feed, but re-tweet your messages and expose you to a broader audience.

Take the time to explore the potential of Twitter lists as a promotion tool. The more you use them, the better it could be for your social profile.

Kathryn Lively is a social media specialist who assists clients with social media optimization services and Virginia Beach web design

ShareThis

According to comScore, Microsoft sites saw their share of searches increase 0.4 percentage points to 9.3 percent in August. Meanwhile, Google saw its share of the market dip slightly with a 0.1 point drop to 64.6 percent.

Read more from Brafton.com.

Do you want your site to be found at the top of Bing search results. High Search Ranking, a division of CINIVA Systems, can help you. Contact us today at 757-499-1990 to learn more.

ShareThis